They've been absent from the scene for a while, and after the release of Fieldy's album Rock N Roll Gangster in January, some folks might be wondering what's up with Korn. Well, the band wants everyone to know it's here to stay. Having just completed a seven-date invasion of Mexico and South America with Static-X, Korn will return to North America to conquer their native land.

The group's summer tour begins in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on June 20, nine days after Korn release their fifth record, Untouchables, and the first 15 dates are centered around the East Coast and the Midwest. The last booked date is July 13 in Dayton, Ohio. Venues will be announced soon.

During the tour, vocalist Jonathan Davis will perform with the aid of a bio-mechanical mic stand custom designed by nightmarish Swiss visual artist H.R. Giger, who is best known for creating insidious creatures for the films "Alien," "Alien III" and "Species." The stand is shaped like a busty, metallic space creature that looks like a cross between an "Alien" beast and a Playboy centerfold.

Korn's new single, "Here to Stay," is currently receiving widespread radio play and a video by the film directors the Hughes Brothers ("From Hell," "Dead Presidents," "Menace II Society") was shot in February before the group headed to Mexico (see "Korn Get Big Hollywood Guns For 'Here To Stay' Vid"). It marks the first music video the Hughes Brothers have directed since 1996.